Middle East and North African Studies (MENA)
The Middle East, North Africa (Maghreb), Sudanic Africa and those countries in Europe and Asia that came under Islamic political control, or were exposed to extensive Islamic religious and cultural influences, are the primary concerns of the interdisciplinary program in Middle East and North African (MENA) studies.
The program in Middle East and North African studies is not a degree-granting body. Students interested in the Middle East, including Israel and Judaic studies as they relate to the MENA area, North Africa, Islam and other MENA subjects, must be degree candidates in one of the regular departments of the University. The MENA program administers several undergraduate cross-disciplinary concentrations and awards recognition to students who fulfill the necessary requirements in the cross-disciplinary concentration of their choice.
MENA Concentration
The MENA cross-disciplinary concentration constitutes a coherent course of study about this area within the framework of requirements for graduation. Interested students must meet with the program director to plan their program within the guidelines below.
The MENA undergraduate cross-disciplinary concentration requirements are simple. Students must successfully complete eight undergraduate courses that are MENA related. These courses are drawn from a number of cultural traditions and a number of disciplines, and may, at the student’s discretion, include one or more language courses. The application for an undergraduate certificate is subject to review by a multidisciplinary faculty committee.
Upon graduation, students receive recognition if they have completed these requirements.
Note: Courses in all departments titled Special Topics, Seminar, Independent Study or Honors may be accepted in meeting the requirements for the MENA cross-disciplinary concentration only when they cover a MENA topic appropriate to the period. Students are advised to consult the MENA director about the acceptability of topics and courses.
Departments Offering MENA Courses
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Africana Studies |
Geography |
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Anthropology |
History |
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Art History |
Philosophy |
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Classical and Near Eastern Studies |
Political Science |
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Comparative Literature |
Sociology |
The library collection at the University includes approximately 75,000 volumes in Arabic, Ottoman and Modern Turkish, Persian and Hebrew. It exceeds 185,000 volumes in Western vernacular languages. The library regularly receives a number of newspapers, periodicals and scholarly journals on MENA, both in European and in MENA languages.